SITR: Interview with Las Vegas Aces' GM Spartan

[Rhynex Entertainment 488]

SITR: Interview with Las Vegas Aces' GM Spartan

 

Thanks for tuning into VHL Network, Stick In The Rink! Last week we featured S73 VHLM prospect Rhynex Entertainment, and now this week we have a special guest. Please welcome @Spartan Spartan! GM of the Las Vegas Aces, and the person who found Rhynex Entertainment!  (round of applause, cheering, and a few Woops could be heard coming from the background audience)

 

Host:  Welcome Spartan! Thanks for coming in today!

 

Spartan: Thank you! The pleasures all mine.

 

Host: I know it must be quite busy with the start of a new season, so we'll get straight into the interview.

 

Spartan: Thanks!

 

Host: You had a huge hull out of the most recent draft, picking up ten players, how do you feel you did? And why do you feel that way? Do you think you could have done better?

 

Spartan: I'm pretty excited about our draft. Our first two picks are proven VHL vets, and they're already great mentors for the young talent we brought in. Speaking of the young talent, we picked up some engaged and energetic players who are excited about the league, and developing in Vegas. I don't know what else we could have done better, and that's not really something I dwell on. The past is the past, and as a mid-season hire, I didn't have much time to change the cards dealt to me. Just made the best out of what I had, and it turned into a great class!

 

Host: Who do you feel will be the Rookie of the Year for S73 VHLM? How about the sleepers? Who's going to shock the league?

 

Spartan: I'd love to think that Fonzi's player, Onde Sandstorm has a pretty good shot at the award. He's coming in at one of the highest TPE levels in his draft class, and has a good cast around him. I think some sleepers could be Waters and Entertainment on LVA, also because they have some really good potential and again, a good cast of wingers around them. I think that Houston is going to come out a lot stronger than people expect. They got some good recreates in the draft and in the FA period, so they'll accumulate TPE really quickly.

 

Host: Now that you have your team and gone through training camp, where do you see Las Vegas Aces mid-season? At the end of the season?

 

Spartan: I don't really have much to speculate about how we'll look in the future, as our goal is always on the next two games. We take it day by day, and try to develop our players as much as possible. Regardless of our situation midseason or at the end of the season, we're going to put in 100% of our energy and commitment to the team and the players on this team.

 

Host: You seem to have high hopes for the youngster Rhynex Entertainment, even plotting the "A" on his jersey before even his first game! What caught your eye about his performance?

 

Spartan: I think that he showed up ready to work and had the energy to blow this league away. He came in with the right attitude even though he was traded to the team, which was phenomenal for a player that young. From experience, those are the kinds of people you want in your locker room, and vocal in there as well. The "A" is a big responsibility, but he'll be working with Sandstorm and Reynolds, so I'm confident he'll blow our expectation away!

 

Host: The recent line ups you've submitted was quite the surprise to many! It appears you're lining up two Left Wings in Chris Reynolds and Kasey Tamm with Center Rhynex Entertainment, and two Right Wings in Onde Sandstrom and Gary Rush with Center Tim Waters. What made you choose to have such line combinations , as opposed to the more traditional Left Wing, Center, Right Wing combination?

 

Spartan: One of the things I admired most about the wingers on this team is their flexibility and adaptability. Rush and Sandstorm had some time together last season, so I wanted to keep them together to keep that chemistry on a team that featured mostly new faces in the skater group. Reynolds is a natural LW, but Tamm has that flexibility teams love.

 

Host: After the first two games of the season, Las Vegas finished with a Win and a Loss. What surprised you in these two games?

 

Spartan: I think the start was mildly surprising as a whole. Saskatoon are the defending champions, but it was a pretty tight game in a 4-3 loss. San Diego was also a team many expected to be contenders, but we had a massive 6-2 win in there. Most surprising were the performances of the young centers, Entertainment and Waters, as they each notched multiple points across both games, proving the talent they've flashed in the past. Considering the center situation last year was unstable and fluctuated a bit due to the late addition of Kevin King and a slump from Remy Moreau, this is a really nice change of pace. Waters and Entertainment are phenomenal 1-2 punches, and they're just getting started.

 

Host: I know, it is very early in the season, but how often do you suspect you will be changing up the line ups?

 

Spartan: It will really depend on how games go. When I managed Team Canada in the S72 WJC, I changed up lines between every game. I typically try not to mess with the lines too much as long as they're working, but there's always times that Twists and I will be chatting and be like, "oh, should we try changing so and so around in the lineup, they could pair really well with this player because of their skillsets." We're always trying to improve as management, but we don't try to change things that don't need to be changed.

 

Host: Alright! Looks like we are almost out of time. Is there any parting words you want to give to the audience and the fans out there?

 

Spartan: Just be excited about this team. Vegas went into the S73 draft with lower expectations, and came out with a solid class geared for the future. However, these new additions to the team are a real spark and could lead to some surprises coming out of this city. We embrace the underdog mentality, so just watch the fun we'll have this season as we all grow and learn together!

 

Host: Thank you for such a wonderful interview Spartan! We hope to have you come on again in the future! Best of luck for the season!

Round of applause of GM Spartan! And that's all the time we have for today. See everyone next time on Stick In The Rink!

 

(word count: 1,130

claims for weeks ending July 26 and Aug 2nd)

[Blazzer 759]

Awesome interview!! Can't wait for the next SITR!

[Rhynex Entertainment 488]

claim for Aug 2 as well

[ahockeyguy 110]

I didn't see this the first time around, and I am sorry that I missed it! This was a detailed interview that asked good questions. I especially found intriguing the reason(s) behind awarding the A to a player who hadn't played yet, and the logic behind lineups (specifically how often they were or should be changed). I enjoyed the live studio audience kind of feel also (which came out in the intro); if there is a criticism, and this is just me talking here, it would be that I would have liked to see a little more (one or perhaps two reactions from the audience in the middle, and one polite clapping or cheering at the end); it would just add to the realism. Other than this, I think you guys did a great job, and I would love to see more of both of your interviews (even if not with each other) in the future! Score: 9.9/10